Cover seal for washing machines



Jan. 12, 1954 H. J. RAND 2 665,574

COVER SEAL FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed Jan. 51, 1948 34c 34 341 341 20 soV ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 12, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COVER SEL FOR WASHING MACHINES Henry J. Hand, Bratenahl, Ohio, assignor to H. J.Rand Washing Machine Corp., New York, N. Y., a corporation of DelawareApplication January 31, 9%, Seri l No- 5,623

Claims. (01. 68-21) invention relates to improvements in a top cove andal for a wash ng ma hin This invention is applied to a machine oi thetype shown in my copending application Serial No. 5. 19, filed Ja uary,1, 1948. pat nted p il 28,. 1953, Number 3,636,372, and disclosing aflexible bag container for liquid and laundry with an agitator insidethe bag for providing the wash in operation. Means is provided forfilling the bag container to the proper level with liquid for a washingoperation and after the operation is om let d a pump is provided forwithdrawin the water and air 30 .1 Within the flexible container so asto create a vacuum inside the container causing it to collapse againstthe clothes to squeeze the water out of them. The present inven ion c ne n w h a t p v r and s al for c osing an open i the t p of the flexiblhag container through which the clothes are inserted and remov d.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cover for such anopening which automatically seals itself upon the creation of a vacuuminside of the bag but which automatically acts as a relief valve torelieve any pressure inside the ba Ancther object of the presentinvention is to provide such a seal between the cover and the nec of thehas a apt d t ove c me y of the usual commercial inequalities about thisopening.

Still another object of the present invention is to so support the topcover that it is easily movable for small amounts in a verticaldirection, without tilting, so as to provide an efficient seal at alltimes.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide such a topcover seal either associated with the cover itself or associated withthe neck of the-bag. I

Still another object of the invention is to provide an annular lip offlexible rubber-like material around the neck of the bag coasting with acover portion of spheroidal shape so that sealing engagement is alwaysproduced on the periphery of a perfect circle.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a check valveassociated with the cover or the bag and communicating with the upperportion of the bag to allow air flow outwardly only.

Other objects of the present invention will be apparent from theaccompanying drawings and description and the essential features thereofwill be set forth in the appended claims.

the drawings,

1 is a top plan view 01 a washing machine equipped with my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the same taken alongthe line 2-2 of Fig. i;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view similar to Fig. 2showing a modified form of my invention;

Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmental sectional views showing modified forms ofcheck valves; while Fig. 6 is a fragmental sectional view showing amodification oi Fig. 2.

The present invention is particularly adapted to a novel type of washingmachine as fully disclosed in my above mentioned copending application.This machine comprises a flexible bag of rubber-like material 10 havinga top opening Illa for the insertion and removal of clothes. A cover I lcloses this opening so that the bag In provides a liquidand air-tightbag for a clothes Washing and drying operation. Means is providedthrough line I2 and opening 13 to fill the bag Ill with liquid to apredetermined level for the washing operation. Preferably also means isprovided for limiting the liquid to a predetermined level and forstarting the washing cycle automatically upon the liquid level reachingthis point. This means, as clearly described in my copendingapplication, comprises a plate [4 having a hinge mounting on a metalwall l5 which supports the sides of the bag container. A switch I 6 isheld in f xed position with its operator engaging the plate 14. Itresults from this construction that when the water reaches apredetermined level the plate 14 is pushed outwardly by the bag It) soas to actuate the switch [6 and start a washing operation. The washingmotion is provided by an agitator I! which is suitably mounted insidethe bag It and provided by means of a shaft l8 and drive means l9 withan oscillating action so as to provide an efiicient washing operation.Upon completion of the washing of the clothes, a pump 20 is ope ated tow hdraw th quid a d air from within the bag container Ill through theopening l3 and the .conduit '2 I. This causes the bag Ill to collapseinwardly and to squeeze the clothes in the lower central portion of thebag so as to squeeze the water out of them.

As clearly shown in Fig. 2, the bottogi of the bag It is supported upona plate structure 22. The top of the bag l9 terminates around theopening Illa in a heavy neck portion lllb. This neck is supported on astiff plate 23 which in turn is supported at 24' on a fixed portion ofthe frame, The top cover of the machine comprises an outer plate Ho. andan inner plate lib. These two plates are secured together in anysuitable manner but in the present instance a central stud 25 is fixedto the outer plate and a screw 26 secures the inner plate to the stud.

In the form of my device shown in Fig. 2, the seal between the top coverand the neck of the bag lob is provided by means of an annular ring 21of rubber-like material and generally 8 form in section. One loop of the8 form embraces the periphery of the plate IIband when the plate llb issecured to the plate Ha the annular ring 21 is firmly secured in theposition of Fig. 2. This ring has a longer lip 21a adjacent the neck ofthe bag IBb. This lip 21a has its free edge directed outwardly for apurpose that will presently appear.

Means is provided for supporting the top cover always in a generallyhorizontal position so that it makes the best seal with the top of thebag neck I 01) wthout any tilting. The suspension means here disclosedcomprises a hinge 28 of V type extending entirely along one side of thecover plate Ha. A flange 29 of the cover is secured to one leg of thehinge. The other leg of the hinge is secured to two parallel links 36.Each of these links extends for a distance of several inches laterallyaway from the cover to a point where the links are pivoted coaxially at3! on brackets 32 which are secured to plate 23 which in turn is fixedto the frame. Beneath each of the links 30 is a block of rubber or thelike 33 so positioned that it holds the links 33 in such a position thatthe top cover is always generally horizontal. It should be understoodthat the cover moves vertically through a very small fraction of an inchduring the action now to be described.

As the water rises within the bag container I!) when the latter is beingfilled, th air in the bag must escape freely if the bag is to be filledto a predetermined level without hindrance. In some devices of thischaracter where the top cover is secured tightly in place such an airpressure will develop within the washing machine tub as to prevent therise of the water to the level desired. In such cases the washingoperation takes place with insufficient water or sometimes with such asmall amount of water that the clothes are destroyed. In my device, asthe water. rises within the container Hi the air lifts the cover H andflexes the long, free lip 21a of the annular sealing ring 21. Where thering 2'! i of the order of a foot or more in diameter, there is aconsiderable area of the cover subjected to pressure causing the same tolift. At the same time there are more than three feet of the annular lipadapted for the escape of air and I find that a very slight pressurewill cause the flexible lip to open outwardly allowing the air. toescape. This has an additional advantage in a washing machine of thetype described which utilizes a pressure switch i 6 for starting thewashing operation when the liquid has reached a predetermined levelwithin the flexible bag In. In such a case, I have found that thebuilding up of air pressure within the flexible bag, prior to the liquidreaching a predetermined 132161, will cause the plate I4 to moveoutwardly and actuate the switch l6 before a predetermined level isreached, unless the air is allowed to vent freely from the bag containerIll. For this reason my flexible cover seal 2! is particularly useful ina machine of th type described.

A modified form of my invention is shown in Fig. 3 where the annularflexible lip is attached to the neck of the bag container rather than tothe cover. In this form of my device the flexible bag it! performs allof the functions described in the first device and the agitator H isanalogous to the agitator I1. All of the other parts described inconnection with Fig. 2 are understood to be supplied also in Fig. 3 withthe exception of the parts now to be described.

Here the cover 34 comprises an outer plate 34a and an inner plate 34bheld together by a central stud 35. The central portion of the plate341) is spheroidal in shape and the outer portion of this plateterminates in a shoulder 340 for a purpose later described. Theperiphery of this plate at 34d is permanently secured to the plate 34a.

The annular sealing lip in the case of this modification comprises anannular lip 36 of rubber-like material either formed integrally with thebag [0' or securely fastened to the bag around the neck thereof.Adjacent the neck of the bag and slightly outward from the lip 36 isprovided a ring shoulder 3! of hard rubber or the like adapted to engagethe shoulder 340 of the inner cover plate. Here the cover 34 issupported on hinges 28 and links 36 as in the first described. form andrubber blocks 33 maintain the horizontal position of the top cover.

In the unstressed condition of the annular lip 36 it occupies the brokenline position of Fig. 3. When the cover 34 is placed in position toclose the bag opening, the plate portion 34b moves the lip 36 toward thefull line position of Fig. 3. Before a vacuum is created within the bagIll, during a drying operation, there is some play between the shoulders34c and the shoulders 31. When the vacuum is created within the bag l6,then the cover is sucked downwardly and the lips 36 seal tightly againstthe spheroidal surface ofthe plate 341;. Since the lip 36 terminates ina circle and since the plate 34b is spheroidal in shape, it follows thatthe annular lip 36 always engages the plate 34b on a perfect circle andthus gives a very good seal. It will be noted that the lip 36 facesoutwardly so that air escapes very easily from within the bag when the.air under pressure is forced outwardly during the bag filling operation.Conversely, when a. vacuum is created inside the bag, the flexible lip36 is pressed tightly against the plate 341) by the. excess pressure ofthe outside atmosphere over the internal partial vacuum.

The purpose of the shoulders 34c and 31 is to, prevent the entrance ofthe spheroidal plate 34b so far into the neck opening as to jamb thecover Within the annular lip 36. Before this can occur, the shoulders34c and 3! limit the movement of the parts to the position shown in fulllines in Fig. 3. Here again, I have shown a construction which veryefficiently acts as a relief valve for excess air pressure inside of thebag H) but at the same time automatically creates a very efiicient sealwhen a vacuum is created within the bag 10. With this construction, I amenabled to attain a very high vacuum within the bag for the productionof the drying operation. I have attained a vacuum within the bag of theorder of twenty-eight and one-half inches of mercury in the vicinity ofCleveland, Ohio.

Another manner of obtaining a similar result is shown in Figs. 4 and 5.In Fig. 4, a check valve 38 of rubber-like material is provided in thecover 39 of a washing machine 46 which is other-- wise like the machineof Figs. 1 and 2, including the bag 13 with proper support and with pumpand. agitator as described. A solid sealing type and comprisesrubber-like lips adapted to open upon slight pressureinside bag so as topermit air to escape outwardly. Uponthe creation of a partial vacuuminside the bag "Hi, the lips of valve 38 close tightly.

In'Fig. 5, the check valve 42 is like valve 38 but is secured directlyto the upper portion of bag H)" or made integral therewith. The bag 10"is otherwise like bag H) of Fig. 2 and the other parts of Fig. 5 arelike the parts of Fig. 4. Valve 42 permits air under pressure to escapefreelyfrom the bag but prevents entrance of air when a vacuum is createdwithin the bag. I In Fig. 6, I have shown a modification of Fig. 2providing an annular sealing ring 43 of bellowslike form. This ring hasa flexible sealing lip 43a performing the same sealing function as thelip 21a of Fig.2. The additional advantage of Fig. 6 is that it allowsfor more movement of the cover II and will take care of greaterinequalities between the cover and the bag neck lob. I

In all forms of my device, it will be noted that the flexible bag isadapted to collapse inwardly and downwardly during a drying operation.The bag is air-tight (against inflow of air) except for the top opening.By merely placing the top cover over this opening, the machine is readyfor operation as the bag collapses away from the cover and is notpressed toward the cover.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a flexible liquid and airtight bag within whichlaundry is processed, there being an opening through the top of said bagthrough which laundry may pass, a cover for said opening, said coverhaving a bottom spheroidal surface for sealing engagement over saidopening, means for creating a partial vacuum within the bag to collapsesaid bag upon said laundry, and sealing means comprising an annularflexible sealing member having a free edge, said edge being angularlydisposed with respect to the horizontal, said edge extending betweensaid bag top and said cover, said sealing means being self-sealingresponsive to a partial vacuum within the bag, whereby said sealingmeans becomes effective merely upon placing said cover over saidopening.

2. In combination, a flexible liquid and airtight bag within whichlaundry is processed, there being an opening through the top of said bagthrough which laundry may pass, a cover for said opening, said coverhaving a bottom contact surface approximately spheroidal in shape forpositioning over said opening, means for creating a vacuum within thebag to. collapse said bag upon the laundry and sealing means includingan annular flexible lip extending around the periphery of said opening,said lip being disposed in a direction other than laterally andextending between said bag top and said surface, said contact surfaceand said lip being self-sealing responsive to a partial vacuum withinsaid bag.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 in which said cover is providedwith hinge means on one side thereof, said hinge means maintaining saidcover in substantially horizontal position during collapse of said bag.

4. In combination, a flexible liquid and airtight bag within whichlaundry is processed, there being an opening through the top of said bagthrough which laundry may pass, a cover" for said opening, said coverhaving a bottom con- Y tact surface, said surface being approximatelyspheroidal in shape and adapted for positioning over said opening insealing relationship with the top of said bag, means for creating avacuum within said bag, a sealing means between said surface and saidbag including an annular flexible edge between the bag top and saidsurface;

said edge'being free and unsecured, said edge be ing disposed angularlywith respect to the hori-. zontal and extending between said surface andsaid bag top, said edge engaging said surface in sealing relationshipupon creation of said vacuum within the bag. 5. In combination, aflexible liquid and airtight-bag within which laundry is processed,there being an opening through the :topofsaid-bag through which laundrymay pass, a'coveriorjsaid opening, means for creating a partial vacuumwithin the bag to collapse :said bag upon: the laundry; said coverhaving a bottom contact surface'of greater diameter than saidopening-seals ing means between the top'of said bag and-said surfacecomprising a flexible sealing member ex"- tending around the perimeterof said opening, said sealing member including a free and unrestrictededge, said edge being deformable and disposed in a direction angularlywith respect to the horizontal and extending between said surface andsaid bag, said sealing means including said edge contacting said surfacein sealing relationship responsive to a partial vacuum within the bag.

6. The combination set forth in claim 5 in which said cover is providedwith hinge means on one side thereof, said hinge means maintaining saidcover in substantially horizontal position during collapse of said bag.

'7. In combination, a flexible liquid and air-tight bag within whichlaundry is processed, there being an opening through the top of said bagthrough which laundry may pass, a cover for said opening, means forcreating a vacuum within said bag to collapse the bag upon said laundry,a lower portion of said cover being of spheroidal contour, said portionbeing adapted to partially pass through said opening, a seal betweensaid cover portion and said bag about said opening comprising acontinuous annular flexible member having a free edge, said member beingsecured to said bag, said free edge extending upwardly and angularlyaway from said opening, said edge being adapted to engage said portionof said cover in self-sealing relationship during collapse of said bag.

8. In combination, a flexible liquid and air-tight bag within whichlaundry is processed, there being an opening through the top of said bagthrough which laundry may pass, a cover for said opening, means forcreating a vacuum within said bag to collapse the bag upon said laundry,the lower portion of said cover being approximately spheroidal incontour, said portion being adapted to partially pass through saidopening, a deformable seal between said cover portion and said bag aboutsaid opening comprising a continuous annular flexible member having afree edge, said member being secured to said cover,. said free edgeextending away from said opening and being disposed between said lowerportion of said cover and said bag top, said free edge being adapted toengage said bag top around said opening in selfsealing relationshipduring collapse of said bag.

9. In combination, a flexible liquid and air-tight bag within whichlaundry is washed, an opening through the top of said bag through whichlaundry may pass, a cover for said opening, said cover having a bottomcontact surface of gradually increasing perimeter away from saidopening, said surface being adapted for positioning over said opening,means for creating a vacuum within the bag to collapse said bag upon thelaundry and deformable sealing means including an annular flexible lipextending around the periphery of said opening, said lip being disposedin a direction other than laterally and extending between said bag topand said surface, said contact surface and said lip being self-sealingresponsive to a partial vacuum within said bag.

10. In combination, a flexible liquid and airtight bag within whichlaundry is washed, an opening through the top of said bag through whichlaundry may pass, a cover for said opening, said cover having a bottom"contact surface of gradually increasing perimeter away from saidopening, said surface being adapted for positioning over said opening,means for creating a vacuum within the bag to collapse said bag upo thelaundry and sealing means comprising an annular flexible bellows-likeconstruction between 8. a portion of said surface and a portion of saidbag top, one end of said bellows being secured to one of said portions,the other end of said bellows terminating in an annular free andunrestricted edge, said edge extending away from said opening, wherebysaid are self-sealing responsive to a partial vacuum within said bag.

HENRY J. RAND.

References Cited in the file Of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 7 644,428 Hubbe Feb. 27, 1900 1,478,973 McMordie Dec. 25, 19231,968,638 Drucker July 31, 1934 2,182,540 Hutchins Dec. 5, 19392,309,617 Benson Jan. 26, 1943 2,449,634 Baade Sept. 21, 1948 2,472,682Rand June 7, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 319,352 GreatBritain July 10, 1930 341,740

Great Britain Jan. 22, 1931 surface and said edge

